Teetering on the brink

daisy_1571

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82051499#Comment_82051499

brilliant , you are using knowledge to play them at their own game. Every little win will help the spiral go in the right direction now rather than getting further into debt.

daisy_1571

I have bought some stuff for the van and the new tents I had promised the girls so we can get out and enjoy the summer. I have a million other things I would like to buy (like getting in a plumber and electrician to sort the toilets and lights but I feel like I’ve already spent way too much so that can wait until I get a job (or the toilet stops flushing completely!).

I was thinking about this. I completely get what you are saying. After so long I'm sure it feels wildly crazy to be spendin out again.

Once you have gone a couple of breaks away and you have cleared some thinking space though it would be worth thinking about this again I feel.

My reasoning if it was me would be: Every job in a house is easier in summer/warmer weather. Its easier and usually cheaper to plan a job ahead than wait till you are in an emergency situation. You could lose nothing by at least getting some trades in to look, things might be easier fixed than you think? The electricity would be easier worked on in daylight than in the darker winter days and the plumber would probably not notice the light didn't work if (s)he there in August rather than December 😂

(Once you have the van functional at least there will be a toilet to use if the house one is being worked on)

you deserve to have a reasonably working house for your own sanity as well as your girls'

EatingBeans

See the thing is we have sort of gotten used to the lack of lighting and dodgy toilet situation so it no longer seems urgent. 😬 I would be mortified if a guest asked to go to the toilet and they discovered what that meant in our house but the answer to that is simply don’t have guests! 🤣 Honestly, my brother even offered to give me cash to get it sorted but that would mean owing him more (albeit interest free), but I just want to feel like I am making the debt go in a positive situation first before adding to it anymore. dd1 will only live here for a few more month so spending on making memories is far more important to me atm. Once she has left, then I will reconsider the priorities but hopefully I will also have a job by then. 🤞

The credit card situation is just amusing me tbh. All that time I might have actually used the extra credit if they have given it to me sooner (because things were so tight), but now there is no chance! Fluid is my more expensive credit card and is currently top priority to work towards paying off (I left £900 still on it so I have a smaller target to focus on), absolutely no chance I will be moving a balance to it unless they offer a zero percent deal.

The good news is I have just had a phone appointment from ESA and they are processing my claim now. The guy on the phone was a little confused as to why I would apply since UC is deducted £ for £ if you get ESA but when my UC is currently being reduced to a nil claim already thanks to work paying me late, I figure I should still get a bit more money this way. That’s what google tells me anyway. More paperwork and hurdles to jump through but if it can stretch out my payment money and give me longer to find a job without stressing over the bills so much then it will be worth it.

Thankfully that’s all I need to do today. I managed to get up, dressed and microwave something to eat but that’s it. The cooler weather has set my face off and ironically I had a much worse sleep last night so today I am exhausted. I am going to order some shopping to be delivered and then have a nap (I am already in bed).

Jobs for the rest of the week include finishing moving money around and declare everything to UC, fill in PIP form 😰, make a presentation and prepare for my interview on Friday, and rest, lots of rest, and puppy cuddles. 😴